The Day I Run Out Of Cooking Gas

One day, I ran out of gas and cash! So I tried to cook the old fashioned way - using charcoal and unused wood cuttings. I must admit that the exercise turned out to be quite a humbling experience.

For some time I have been guilty of being used to convenient and fast cooking methods - like gas ranges, electric stoves, microwave ovens, and other electrical conveniences which require little physical exertion simply because all that is needed is plug them in or switch them on.

The cooking activity turned out to be taxing and took more than twice the time it normally does when cooking on gas or electric stoves. I had to run in and out of the kitchen because the make -shift cooking stove was set-up outside. I felt I spent the whole morning waiting for the rice to cook (Okay, an exaggeration). Now if you are wondering why there is no mention of an electric rice cooker, it is because I have none. I ditched it so I can save on electricity bill.

Cooking the sud-an was worse. It took a lot of fanning and some puffing to create enough heat. And it seemed like - I am again waiting forever for the whole thing to boil and cook. And because I was not adept in making a good fire, I was constantly enveloped by smoke. I thought it was a miracle I survived suffocation.

Now don't get me wrong. I have nothing against the whole process. In fact I wanted to experience this method of cooking. Why? because my lolas on both sides survived a lifetime of cooking by wood, yet there was never any complaint - of too much smoke, or of dirt by soot. In truth, a lot of households in our area, those who can not afford the expensive LPG gas or electricity, still continue to cook this way. Their little children would patiently gather tree cuttings, unused wood, or even wood shavings. Maybe because it has always been this way for them, they never complain. I realized if we need to survive hard times we must learn how to adjust and be patient...

And so my day ended... hands covered with soot, red eyed and all - but still able to survive gracefully. What did I accomplished? A delicious, slow-cooked, aromatic, smoky-flavored meal!

Fiesta of Our Lady of Fatima Parish

Fatima Parish in Basak Mandaue City, Cebu is once again celebrating its annual fiesta in honor of Our Lady of Fatima. There were series of activities which lasted for a week and culminated in a mass celebrated by no less than our beloved Cardinal Vidal. Take a glimpse of the fiesta...

People were seen arriving at the church for the fiesta mass celebration. Candle and balloon vendors can be seen hawking their wares. Of course, balloons are a fixtures even during ordinary Sundays...

People slowly filled up the church and it was starting to overflow...

Inside - the church was already full as people waited for the mass to begin...

While outside - the altar boys were seen preparing to line up and patiently waited for the Cardinal to start the mass...

The Cardinal is about to make the entrance to the church to start the mass...

Offertory part - people brought flowers and other offerings...

After the mass - people patiently lined up to pay homage to the Lady of Fatima...

While others lighted candles outside the church and offered some personal prayers.

This is how it was in the years that passed. How it will probably be for years to come, unless the people's faith will change...

See you again next fiesta!

Game Show Contestant

My sister sent a text to ABS-CBN Kapamilya text raffle promo and surprisingly received a reply and got invited to participate in their game show. We laughed over it because, oh well, truth is we are a bit skeptical about raffle promos. Anyway to make the story short, out of curiosity, she accepted the invitation.

The call time time was at 7:00 a.m. one beautiful Saturday morning. But they soon found out that the program hosts and other staff just start to arrive only around 9:00 a.m. It was not an actual live show but a taping for a future episode. My sister did not get lucky because she got eliminated in the first Round, and was not able to proceed towards the next round. As consolation, those who did not make it were given snacks and consolation prizes.

She said that all contestants are urged to show enthusiasm and energy during the taping of the show, or else the segment is going to be taped all over again. My sister noted that Katya Santos (the girl in pensive mood wearing black blouse and maong pants) is not actually chubby in person, but just voluptuous.

All in all my sister said the experience was not bad after all, she even enjoyed it!

Go Buyot!

"Buyot" is the Bisaya or Cebuano word for the Pinoy "bayong". Those are the bags you can find hanging at the right portion of this photo. The one in the middle is made of native materials while the colored ones are made of plastic.

As concern for the use of plastic bags increases, people are on the lookout for alternative replacements. Some are turning towards bags made of cloth.

But me, I would prefer to use the buyot anytime! I remember way back when I was a little girl, my mother (and according to her my lola too), used the native version when they make compra sa tiangge or mercado (wet market). When the supermarkets went in vogue, women stopped using the buyot and native baskets maybe because the supermarkets prefer to use plastic grocery bags to pack their purchases. However, I believe there are still a few who remained loyal and use these bags when buying in wet markets until now.

Between the native and the plastic buyot, I would rather choose the plastic one because it is sturdier and washable. It also lasts much longer, which translates in big savings since we do not need to buy replacements regularly.

So before those killer plastics will overrule our world, it is high time to think green and Go Buyot once more!

My Friend Kate...

Kate P. was a pretty girl in her early twenties when I met her. We used to work together in the same floor (3rd floor) at the bank we were both working for. We had a closely knit group composed of quirky and funny personalities, and we shared unforgettable lunches and even gimiks. (Sigh!) I realized now it was one of the most enjoyable episodes in my working life....

We were not aware of the changes that were to happen in the bank. And then all of us have to part ways...

I knew most of our group went overseas in the hope of better opportunities. And our lives evolved... Suddenly to my surprise - lo and behold! I found Kate via the internet. The little teacher turned banker has now turned into a pastry chef! And she is now the proud owner of an online business. Wow!

And she is producing not only delectable confections but little works of arts... I'm proud of you friend.



Photo Credits: Bewitched Kate

Flowers In Almost Everybody's Backyard

We call this fuschia colored flower - Bangkok. It is hardy, loves the sun, and does not demand too much attention. Blooms all year round too.

There was a time when everybody went gaga over this rose cactus. There are actually several colors for this variety but the most common or popular is red. It is thorny and needs cool shade. I wondered why I have no success in growing them. Eventually I lost interest in it.

Oh I love this one. I even made my own name for it - grass flowers! They only bloom in the morning and wilts around 11:00 in the morning. But on the the following day new batches will open their flowers once again. They can grow anywhere. However mine demanded to be watered everyday.

These yellow flowers are actually of the vine family which can be draped around trellises or posts. One of my cousins had them and they look pretty on her porch. They just need to be trimmed constantly to avoid over crowding. Hers almost covered her door.

Nanay used to have a shrub of these peach colored double gumamela. Both of us used to love it dearly. Unfortunately we never saw the ants that were building their homes around it's roots. When the aphids attacked the shrub, it gave up and died. My mother and I both mourned its loss.

These gumamela here and the one below are actually not the local variety. One of my auntie has shrubs of these varieties and they can grow as high as the roof tops. But they are really very pretty.

I remember back when I was still in elementary school, we were always asked to bring a gumamela whenever we study the parts of a flower. I wonder if the students today are still asked the same...

Photo Credits: My Best Homes Realty

Last Dance...

The year 2008 has been a roller coaster ride for me. It's opening salvo at exactly January 1 is the second hospitalization of my mother due to stroke. And for the next 4 to 5 months, we weave in and out of the hospital for various treatments.

I had to give up some of my projects to attend to the caring of my Nanay, and this really put a great pressure on our already strained financial resources.

Even my blogging activities which afforded me enjoyment and relaxation, have to take back seat too. Just recently I found I lost my page rank! Oh well! misfortunes do come in torrential deluge...

I will be finishing 2 more write-up for product reviews, and I am contemplating of taking off indefinitely... I need time to nurse my pain and disappointment.

Inasal, Puso, Ug Coke!

My brother and his former buddies from ERUF banded together again, this time for the love of a sport! Each one pursuing different lives from each other but together took the time to unite for biking activities...

We were happy to know at first that - at last! my brother has finally decided to really start on some physical sport. Until we saw these pictures of ughh! Inasal...and coke (coca-cola)!

All the while we thought that biking would have paved for a health program. Palami man lang di-ay ug kaon! By the way, inasal ni sa Talisay. No matter how many inasal makers have sprouted all over the city, the orig is still the most remembered...

Maria Luisa Estate Park

It's Been Quite Awhile...

It's been quite a while...

I missed tinkering, surfing other pages, reading reactions... but sadly I don't have the luxury of time anymore. Many other concerns are vying for my attention and most especially...you got it right - my time.

My internet connection was also another cause of my misery. I could rant like someone crazy till the end of time, but (sigh!) what's the use? Globelines will never care! So I just have to grit my teeth and suffer when the connection goes bad, and patiently wait for years before their technicians will arrive to look into our problem...

We're also tight on the budget right now and perhaps like the rest of the nation are feeling the pinch of the rising prices of commodities. I began thinking of getting additional projects, unfortunately have not found success yet. My brother who had just returned from a job in Taiwan, has began searching and applying for some jobs in the Middle East. I think that he may have some better chances of bagging a job. And although he is trying hard to pretend to be nonchalant about it, I guess that he is secretly looking forward to a call and perhaps some fat contract. Fat contract? Fat chance! Oh well, only time can tell...There are multitudes of Pinoys running to the Middle East for better job prospects. Some became successful, but some... well only time can tell. I'll just wish my brother good luck and will give him my prayers...

Poor Clare Monastery (Cebu)

Have you ever visited the Poor Clare Monastery at one point in your life? It is tucked in a hilly lot but overlooking the sea...

This is their driveway. That Sunday of our visit a group of 3 people mindlessly practiced driving a motor scooter disturbing the otherwise serene and peaceful silence of the monastery. That some people could be so thoughtless is beyond me. But the thought that the security guard allowed it to happen... I mean hey! it is not a practice area - are we forgetting here that it's supposed to be a monastery?

To the left of the driveway (if one is coming from the outside) is the building where the nuns would entertain guests and other people seeking counsel perhaps... If we may not have a chance to speak with a nun, there is a box there for prayer petitions. We dropped ours in the hope that the nuns will include them in their prayers. Sometimes some problems need a battery of prayer warriors...

This is their chapel on the hill...

This is how it looks inside... On the right side is an enclosed space where the nuns do their prayers. There were nuns praying on that day and I wanted to have their picture taken. But I decided to refrain from doing so... I guess they deserve to have some private moments...

Part of their garden is a grotto of our Lady...

VECO

VECO or Visayan Electric Company, used to have older men as tellers or cashiers as long as I can remember. But lately, I think they are trying to reinvent their image and even the look of their office. They have moved out of their D. Jakosalem office and settled some of their departments at the third floor of SM City Cebu. This is now how they look:

In fairness, paying time has vastly improved. Not much waiting time anymore with more cashiers ready to receive your payments. They now also have a call center and customer service staff to attend to your calls... I still think though the bills are still horrendously high!

Puto Maya And Sikwate

Usually piping hot puto maya and sikwate are sold on early mornings. But my sister discovered somebody selling them at night-time when people are rushing home from work. This woman-seller positioned herself at the corner of a busy junction (between the highway and the baranggay road), and quite unbelievably managed to have them all sold out.

Because her puto and sikwate are yummy, they're quite a hit among her loyal customers. For those living abroad, here is wishing you were here to share this treat... (kuwang na lang mangga!)

For those not familiar what puto is - it is pilit (glutinous rice, which is either all white or tapul like the one above), cooked like rice in coconut milk, sugar, ginger, and a little salt. While sikwate is our local chocolate made from cacao.

Scenes From A Flores De Mayo

Every year during the month of May, we pay homage to the Blessed Virgin Mary by offering flowers every afternoon for the entire month. The rosary is recited and hymnals are sung during the ritual. Participants are mostly young girls and young ladies. Little girls are often dressed like angels while the young ladies wear white... It is called Flores De Mayo...

Young girls look forward to this event, and mothers are only too willing to let them participate. Here the little angels patiently wait for their cue to walk down the aisle towards the altar.

They are now preparing to walk to the altar...

At the altar they sing songs and say prayers for the Holy Mother Mary...

The offering of flowers...

Capturing the sweet innocence of young children...

Time to go home with Mother in tow...